I have been on annual leave this week so all told, it’s been pretty quiet. I’ve watched plenty of TV, caught up with bits of coursework and I have been going to the gym. Given the fact I have been off, I have attended during the day which was something of an eye opener.
I usually attend between 4pm (if I finish work a little early) and 7pm, but to attend at 10.30am was certainly different. For starters, on Friday I was the youngest person in the gym by about 20 years! The morning also tends to be the time when those people who have been sent by their doctors to get healthier attend. It wasn’t until this week that I truly appreciated the diverse cross section of people who actually attend the gym. I have always had this preconceived notion that people who go to a gym are trying to get buff or tone up…it never really occurred to me that there are people there simply because they have got to the stage where their doctor has said “exercise or you face some significant health problems”.
Whilst I was at the gym on Wednesday I also saw a sign for Thump Boxing which, due to hurting my shoulder and ribs back in August, I have been unable to attend. But having been given the all clear by my physio, I thought I would try it out. So I went along after I had done only 20 minutes in the gym and loved every painful, sweaty, exhausting minute of it! It did start to make my shoulder ache a little but the pain was good and the day after my whole body ached…in a great way. I will definitely be going back soon.
Finally, proof positive this week that eating healthily and exercising has had an impact on my body. On Friday I went to buy a new suit for my Magistrate duties; I went to a suit outfitters and had myself properly measured (even though I was buying off the peg…I’m not made of money you know), and my chest has grown 2 inches in 12 months! I know it’s not a lot, but I have found that working my chest is the hardest set of muscle to do, plus it has only really developed since I started to lift heavier weights at the gym rather than dumbbells at home and with my injuries that has set me back too. It has taken time but I am actually really pleased with the result so far.
Graham
